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NBA Rookie of the Year power rankings, Week 8: Jaren Jackson Jr. on the rise

By Jerran Anderson

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 2: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies controls the ball against Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 2: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies controls the ball against Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images /

3. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Last week: 5th (↑2)

Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. continues to move up the Rookie of the Year ranks as he’s emerged as a solid frontcourt presence alongside veteran Marc Gasol.

Jackson is beginning to really assert himself on offense and it’s shown in his shooting percentage. He’s shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point land in the Grizzlies’ last three games.

https://twitter.com/memgrizz/status/1068919342291656706

He put up 36 points, the most by a rookie in 2018-19, on 13-of-22 shooting from the floor and 3-of-7 shooting from behind the arc in his best game of the young season.

After a rough game against the Toronto Raptors that saw him play just 19 minutes and score four points on Nov. 27, Jackson has really put it together this past week, producing 22.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

At 14-9 in the West and 2.5 games back of first place, the Grizzlies and Jackson have been a perfect match despite his early foul troubles. He’s averaging 4.1 fouls per game and fouled out of their most recent victory against the Los Angeles Clippers this past Wednesday.